By Albert Benson
Making a rematch between Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto is a strategic move by Top Rank promoter Bob Arum.
Miguel Cotto is no longer under contract with Top Rank, and recently Golden Boy promotions and team Mayweather have been eying him as their opponent for May 5th.
Arum knows he doesn’t want to put Manny Pacquiao in there with Floyd Mayweather because Floyd will beat Manny up easily and he will lose his only cash cow, so upon hearing that Miguel Cotto’s name is being considered as a Mayweather opponent for May 5th, Arum knowing that he needs to satisfy Cotto with a big fight or else Cotto would fight Mayweather and the only fight that is available for Cotto that will give him the monetary satisfaction that he demands is a fight with Manny Pacquiao the only other top draw in boxing besides Money Mayweather.
This way Arum kills two birds with one stone, by blocking Mayweather from fighting Miguel Cotto and leaving Floyd with only a few options like Saul Canelo Alvarez or Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero, and it puts more money in Arum’s pocket since he will be the main promoter of Cotto vs. Pacquiao II. If the fight happens it it will likely be at another catchweight of 150-pounds, unless Cotto demands the rematch be at 154-pounds for his WBA belt.
Don’t look for a Mayweather vs. Pacquiao fight to happen in May or even in November because Manny Pacquiao is slower now, and has a good chance of losing to this newer version of Cotto, a Cotto that isn’t drained and fighting at his optimal weight.
